U.S. President Donald Trump has described the suspect accused of attempting to attack administration officials at a black-tie gala on Saturday night as a “pretty sick guy,” saying the individual had previously been flagged to law enforcement by family members.
Speaking in television interviews on Sunday, Trump said the suspect—identified by an official as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California—had authored what he called an “anti-Christian manifesto.”
“He was a Christian, believer, and then he became an anti-Christian, and he had a lot of change,” Trump told CBS’ 60 Minutes. “He was probably a pretty sick guy.”
According to a law enforcement official cited in reports, Allen allegedly referred to himself in the manifesto as the “Friendly Federal Assassin” and outlined plans to target Trump administration officials, ranking them by seniority. The document reportedly excluded FBI Director Kash Patel.
The manifesto also referenced Christian theology, with the author claiming his actions were intended to protect people he believed were harmed by government policies. One excerpt described in reports argued that “turning the other cheek when someone else is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the oppressor’s crimes.”
Authorities said the document was sent to members of Allen’s family shortly before the attempted attack and also criticized what it described as weak security at the Washington Hilton, where the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was held. Allen was arrested at the scene.
“Like, the one thing that I immediately noticed walking into the hotel is the sense of arrogance,” the manifesto reportedly stated, adding that he entered “with multiple weapons” without being detected.
The incident has raised renewed concerns about security arrangements for high-profile government officials gathered at the event’s ballroom venue.
Trump has since used the episode to promote his proposed White House ballroom project, writing on Truth Social that such an attack “would never have happened” at the planned facility, which he said “cannot be built fast enough.”
In a separate update, Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the suspect traveled by Amtrak from Los Angeles to Chicago and then to Washington, checking into the hotel on Friday. Officials said Trump and senior administration figures were likely targets. Passengers on Amtrak trains are not subject to airport-style screening.
Amtrak confirmed it is cooperating fully with investigators as the probe continues.
